He was found guilty of seven counts of an offender over 18 years engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 and one count of an offender over 18 years engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15.

At the start of the trial, Faithful had pleaded guilty to one count of causing/inciting sexual activity with a child, making a total of nine offences and five victims.

He was first arrested on January 15, 2015 and was charged with the offences on June 1, 2015.

The offences are in relation to incidents relating to five victims between the beginning of January 2014 and start of June 2015 in Wokingham .

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, May 3.

Police response

Senior investigating officer, detective chief inspector Stuart Bosley of Force CID in Berkshire, said: "I want to thank the victims of these terrible crimes for their bravery throughout this investigation and during the trial. They have ensured Faithful cannot commit similar crimes against other young girls.

"Faithful knew full well these girls were underage but he still set about grooming them online and before perpetrating his crimes.

"I hope this case will give others the confidence to come forward and report crimes or concerns they may have about similar inappropriate behaviour of adults towards children. Thames Valley Police takes all such reports seriously and will investigate them fully."

“Nicholas Faithful preyed on the young girls via social media, namely Facebook and Blackberry Messenger (BBM), befriended them, flattered them, engaged them in sexual chat and then sexually abused them for his own sexual gratification.

"The emotional impact, on the victims and their families, of the actions of this man is impossible to quantify."

"Despite the sexual activity being consensual, the girls were under the legal age of consent and he was fully aware of that.

"It is only due to the great courage of the victims that the disgraceful behaviour of this man has been exposed. I would like to pay tribute to them for their strength and tenacity in coming forward.

"The emotional impact, on the victims and their families, of the actions of this man is impossible to quantify. I hope that the convictions and sentence give some small comfort to them. Our thoughts are very much with them all at this time."